James W. Reid

MetLife Global Employee Benefits
Executive Vice President

James W. Reid is the Executive Vice President for MetLife’s Global Employee Benefits (GEB) business and is responsible for expanding MetLife’s employee benefits business in more than 40 countries, broadening relationships and fueling growth across the globe via partnerships with multinational corporations as well as through distribution relationships with financial institutions.

Prior to this role, James led the U.S. Group Benefits Regional & Small Business Solutions division, Direct Business and U.S. Business Innovation Hub and was accountable for strategy, sales, underwriting, and overall profitability in these markets. He also headed MetLife’s Group, Voluntary and Worksite Products organization, managing the company’s industry-leading Accident & Health, Dental, Disability, Hyatt Legal, Life and Vision products and Claims.

Before joining MetLife in 2012, James held various senior executive positions during a 20+ year career with Aetna. He held positions of progressive responsibility within Aetna including serving as the President of Voluntary Plans and Consumer Services, where he had profit and loss responsibilities, product strategy, pricing and consumer distribution, and General Manager in the company’s regional and segment structure.

After a brief stint at Cigna Health Services, where he was Senior Vice President of Distribution, James returned to Aetna. In 2006, he was named Senior Vice President of Regional Businesses Customer Operations. His responsibilities included the delivery of all facets of customer service for Aetna’s Individual, Small Group, Middle Market, Medicare, Pharmacy, Rx Home Delivery, Specialty Rx, Behavioral Health, SRC, and Aetna Student Health Businesses.

James is the recipient of Aetna’s 2001 Chairman’s Award and has been named to both Business Insurance and Crain’s New York “40 Under 40” lists and a recipient of the 2017 Irish America Wall Street 50 award. James serves as Chairman of the Board of Hyatt Legal Plans, Inc. and is a member of the Board of Trustees for The Rumson Country Day School and the Rumson Fair Haven Touchdown Club.

James received his B.S. from The Ohio State University and completed Executive Programs at Columbia University’s Business School and Harvard’s Business School.